Neighbors apprehensive after Poughkeepsie woman, 99, is found slain

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The nephew of a 99-year-old Poughkeepsie woman found dead in her home in a suspected homicide said he had not been in contact with his aunt for several years, but was shocked to hear of her death Wednesday.

"I'm absolutely outraged beyond belief that somebody could live to 99 years old and some animal could come in and kill them," Michael Gumbinger of Poughkeepsie said Friday.

Police said Fannie Gumbinger was killed at her home at 22 Underhill Ave. and are urging residents to make sure their doors and windows are locked at night or when they're away.

A neighbor, Jane Bunt, of 16 Underhill Ave., said she will have lived in the quiet, residential neighborhood for 38 years in November. She said the neighborhood was always "peaceful" and, until now, the only crime-related concerns were related to car break-ins. Although Bunt said she did not know Gumbinger well, she said people would periodically check on her, "but never to my knowledge had she had round-the-clock care."

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Bunt said neighbors have "apprehensive" since the homicide. She said the Gumbinger property is cordoned off and a police officer is stationed at the house day and night. "Until you know why and where ... you say to yourself, 'What is going on?'"

"Why in God's name did they have to harm her?" Bunt said. "Why -- a woman that age -- would they have to harm her. ... I do hope they have answers soon because it will make everybody feel better when we know why and how."

Poughkeepsie police Detective Lt. Edward Freer said an autopsy Thursday determined Gumbinger died of multiple injuries in the home where she'd lived alone since her husband died in 2007. Her body was found Wednesday morning after a caretaker called authorities to report suspicions something was wrong at the house. Freer said 911 dispatch received a call Wednesday at about 7 a.m. from Gumbinger's caretaker, who reported suspicious circumstances at the home that alarmed her and caused her to call police.

He said responding police found Gumbinger dead in the house.

Freer would not release additional information Friday on the circumstances surrounding Gumbinger's death, calling it an ongoing investigation. He said officers are still processing evidence at the scene.

Police are asking anyone who may have observed suspicious activity in the areas of South Cherry Street, Underhill Avenue and Beechwood Terrace any time Tuesday night or Wednesday morning to call detectives at (845) 451-4142.